Freaky and Cool

I don't read French so I can't tell you any details, but this artist, Maissa Toulet, has created these really freaky and cool Cabinets de Curiousites and all you can do is marvel at them. I encourage you to check out her site to see these and more in a much larger size.

Temple Grandin Photo Series by Rian Johnson

HBO is airing a biopic about Temple Grandin starring Claire Danes. Apparently they have been advertising the hell out of it around L.A. and Rian Johnson, the director of Brick and The Brothers Bloom has been posting a photo series on his Twitter account. So far there are 12 in the series. Here are a few of my favorites.


"Temple Grandin, With Sky" 2010 - #1 of a series

"Temple Grandin, With Vagrant And Monopoly Man" 2010 - #2 of a series.

"Temple Grandin 99 Cents Only" 2010 - #6 in a series

"Temple Grandin STOP!" 2010 - #7 in a series

"Temple Grandin GO!" 2010 - #8 in a series

"Temple Grandin Through Water" 2010 - #12 in a series

You can see Rian Johnson's entire photostream HERE.

Happy 79th Birthday James Dean!

Born February 8, 1931
Died September 30, 1955

"Being a good actor isn't easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I'm done."

I like to speculate about what James Dean would have done if he'd lived. I imagine him eventually moving on from acting to directing. Maybe he would have directed cinematic masterpieces. But then every so often, he would act again and put in amazing performances and remind everyone how good he's always been.

Happy 143rd Birthday Laura Ingalls Wilder!

Born February 7, 1867
Died February 10, 1957

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

Film Scene I Love - Breakfast at Tiffany's

The party scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's: classic, gorgeous, hysterical.

One of my favorite onscreen couples. . .

William Powell and Myrna Loy
They are fantabulous!

Photo I Love

Steven Patrick Morrissey and Johnny Marr, photographer unknown

How cute are they? I wonder if they ever miss each other.

A Case of You

Just before our love got lost you said
I am as constant as a northern star
And I said, constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar

On the back of a carton coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
With your face sketched on it twice

Oh you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh I would still be on my feet

Oh I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid
I remember that time that you told me, you said
Love is touching souls
Surely you touched mine
Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time

Oh you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said
Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed

Oh but you are in my blood you're my holy wine
You're so bitter, bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

This is absolutely my favorite Joni Mitchell song. I'm sure that is a claim made by many people as it's one of her most popular songs off what is definitely her most popular album, Blue. But a song this beautiful DESERVES to be at the top of everyone's favorites list. The lyrics are penetrating and confessional and the sentiment is so utterly romantic and heady. Joni sings so sweetly, hitting those incredible high notes that take the listener by surprise.

Have you ever seen the film Truly, Madly, Deeply? It's written and directed by the wonderful Anthony Minghella and stars the lovely Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman. Juliet is Nina, distraught over the death of her boyfriend Jamie. After many months of deep mourning, Jamie suddenly comes back to her as a ghost. There is a scene that takes place the morning after their reunion where they are looking out the window at the clouds in the sky and they sing a bit of Joni's A Case of You. It's adorable and comic, and oh so very romantic. You can see it here; it starts at about 7:37 minutes into this 10:00 minute clip. If you haven't seen this movie, I encourage you to do so.

Wild Geese

Mary Oliver with her dog Percy, photo by Rachel Giese Brown
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Happy 109th Birthday Clark Gable!

Born February 1, 1901
Died November 16, 1960

"Hell, if I'd jumped on all the dames I'm supposed to have jumped on, I'd have had no time to go fishing."